Art of printing.



U'Nirnn STATES Patented March a, .1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ART O PRINTING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 754,257, dated March 8, 1904, Application filed September 19, 1902. seriim. 124,107. (Noiinodel-I To a/ll whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM THOMAS, journalist, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Geraldine, in the CO1. ony of New Zealand, have invented'a new and useful Improvement in the Artof Printing; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention has for its object theutilization of a type-writing machine, the impression from the type of which maybe developed for the production of surfaces for printing.

In the production of surfaces for printing by the agency of a type-writer the type-bars of which produce impressions in some plastic substance there is a practical objection to the process owingto the shoulder of one ,letter disturbing the matrix of the neighboring let ter. This is principally due to itbeing necessary to employ hard-hitting machines; but" the objection is removed if means are at hand whereby impressions can be made by a light touch on the keys.

In carrying out my invention I employ an ordinary type-Writing machine from which to obtain impressions of matter in some soft spongy material, which impressions are afterward developed for the production of the form. The soft plastic substance I prefer to use is flong or flong-paste, and I have found that if a thin sheet of lead is placed upon the flong a good matrix will result from the impact thereon of the type-bar.

In the formation of a stereotype a mold of the first impressions is made in fine wax, which gives the matter in} relief. The broad partsof the mold are thenl reduced with a chisel or a knife to give extra prominence to the matter. A second matrix in plaster-of-paris: is then formed from the wax mold, and from this matrix the stereo is cast. By this it will not which to obtain impressions of the matter in 'f'rnatrix'composed of thin leadbacked by a layerof flong or'lflong-paste, forming a mold in wax from the impressions and reducing the broad parts of the mold I where necessary, a second matrix in plaster-ofparis from the to secure by Letters riamold, and a stereotype from the second matrix,

substantially as describe'd.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. WILLIAM THOMAS. Witnesses: Y Y r P. M. NEWTON RICHARD D. THOMAS. 

